Tool Time: Top Ten Fastballs

Patrick Teale

02/25/2007

The losses of Matt Lindstrom and Henry Owens this offseason to the Marlins reduced the depth of the power arms in the farm system, but the Mets still have some impressive fastball pitchers. InsidePitchMagazine.com analyzes the top fastballs in the Mets' system, ranking the top ten.

Honorable Mention

Deolis Guerra: The soon-to-be 18-year old isn't a power pitcher despite getting that reputation from the fans. He sits mostly in the 88-90 MPH range but the hope is that, at 6-foot-5 and still growing, he could throw harder once he physically matures. He makes up for his lack of power with impeccable control and his height allows him to throw downhill to give batters a different look.

Josh Stinson: Like Guerra, Stinson's size (6-foot-4) allows him to a great angle on his fastball. And like Guerra, somehow people are under the impression he's a power pitcher. Throwing primarily sinking two-seamers in the 82-89 range however, and mixing in a four-seamer that gets to 90 MPH, he relies more on command and pitching to contact to get opposing batters to harmlessly roll over on his fastball than on power.

Jorge Reyes: The 22-year old right-hander has a more explosive fastball than some of the other names in these rankings but lacks the command of his hard fastball to compete with them. Averaging 90-95 MPH with his fastball, he can bring it a couple of ticks higher at times but some scouts wonder if his lack of secondary pitches will prevent him from showcasing his heat at the upper levels.

Top Ten Fastballs

10) Jose De La Torre: At 5-foot-11 and listed at just 165 pounds, De La Torre isn't exactly an imposing figure on the mound. But when he snaps a 90-92 MPH fastball that can reach 94 MPH at times, opposing batters just don't see it coming. He struck out 46 batters in a little over 37 innings between Kingsport and Brooklyn last season and his fastball was a major reason why. His small stature and above average fastball reminds some scouts of former Mets' reliever Scott Strickland.

9) Eric Brown: Proving that lighting up the radar guns isn't always important, Brown tore up the NY-Penn League last season, going 7-1 with a 1.16 ERA for the Brooklyn Cyclones despite possessing a fastball that sits just 88-91 MPH. What he lacks in pure velocity however he more than makes up with impeccable command, great movement, and incredible sinking action. Throw in the fact he's 6-foot-6 and throws downhill, his fastball is quite effective.

8) Nick Carr: Despite going just 3-3 with a 4.88 ERA in his professional debut with the Kingsport Mets last season, Carr has one of the more electrifying fastballs in the entire Mets farm system. The solidly built 19-year old already sits 91-93 MPH with his heater and can hit the mid-90's at times. Some scouts believe he has even more velocity he has yet to tap but all agree he needs to command his fastball better for it to be a truly special weapon.

7) Shane Hawk: The southpaw hasn't pitched in over two years after having surgeries to repair his labrum and rotator cuff. Scheduled to resume his career in 2007, it might take him a little while to re-discover his 90-93 MPH fastball that topped out at 95 MPH back in 2004. But after adding 15 pounds and reporting to camp in the best shape of his life, there are few who doubt he can resurrect his once plus fastball.

6) Tobi Stoner: Stoner isn't the hardest thrower in the system at all, but what he does possess is arguably the best combination of a four-seam fastball and a sinking two-seamer. He can run his four-seamer up in the zone at 94 MHP and can sink his two-seamer consistently in the 90 MPH with great life. Throw in his advanced command of both fastballs, there's no wonder why some Mets insiders believe he could move quickly through the minor leagues.

5) Bobby Parnell: Parnell has a great sinking power two-seamer that sits 90-92 MPH and compliments it with a power four-seamer that can hit 95 MPH. He has great command of both fastballs and his herky-jerky delivery gives him an advantage against opposing batters as they have a hard time picking up his heat. He could advance quickly if the Mets decided to move him to the bullpen down the road.

4) John Holdzkom: A huge figure on the mound, the only thing scarier than his 6-foot-8 and 275 pound build is his fastball that has been clocked as fast as 98 MPH. With the departures of Matt Lindstrom and Henry Owens to the Marlins this past offseason, Holdzkom's fastball is now the quickest. He does need some work however in the command of his fastball and it's the reason why he doesn't rank higher on this list.

3) Kevin Mulvey: Like most of the names on this list, Mulvey has a four-seam fastball that can reach the 95 MPH plateau at times. He sits consistently in the 90-93 MPH range and he gets incredible sinking life with his two-seamer at the same velocity. He spots his fastball at will and can mix up his speeds to give opposing batters a different look, including the recent development of a cut-fastball.

2) Philip Humber: Once possessing a fastball that reached 96 MPH in college, Humber didn't show that kind of velocity with the Mets until his return from Tommy John surgery last season. The former Rice University standout sits comfortably in the 91-94 MPH range with great command of his fastball and can hit 96-97 MPH at times, giving him a plus fastball as he sets his sights on breaking the Mets rotation.

1) Mike Pelfrey: What makes Pelfrey such a special pitching prospect is his plus-plus fastball. Not only does he own a power sinking two-seamer that sits 92-95 MPH like Chien-Ming Wang of the Yankees, but he boasts a power four-seamer that can hit the upper-90's with regularity. He also gets a ton of movement with both fastballs and he commands both exceptionally well. If not for the needed development of his breaking ball, he would have secured a spot atop the rotation in the big leagues already, just on the strength of his fastball.